Tuckton Tea Gardens — Restaurant in England

It opens about 9am for breakfast, serves food all day until about 4-5 ( Check their times on website). You can eat inside or out in the lovely gardens, some tables covered by marquees for those who want to keep out of the sun, and look over the river. They sell ice-creams from a kiosk. You can walk for as long as you like as this is a massive park that goes all the way to Mudeford Spit through greenery, no cars, bird-hide, AOONB and Historical park, about 3 miles if you take the short-cut. Or you can take a ferry there instead or hire a small motorboat for an hour ( 30 mins also available) but 4knot speed limit so you can only do about 5 miles for an hour depending on tide - coming on or going out ot slack. Car park down on Wick Lane, cheap for 6 months of the year and free for the rest! There are free spaces on the left down Wick Lane but it's hit or miss. Tesco/Co-op, coffee-shops, brewery bar, all take-aways and Tapas bar in Tuckton village too. And if you want a restaurant and pub then The Riverside pub is next to the bridge. Alternatively, the Athelstan Pub which does food also but less pricey is about 900 metres along Tuckton High St and turn right once you get onto the tree-lined avenue and...

I hate leaving negative reviews, as my account reflects. I had been excited to experience this place, with its lovely riverside setting and promise of cream tea. However, upon our arrival, we were informed that the kitchen closed at 14:00 and that even sandwiches weren't available. We were handed a food menu with drink options on the back, and after taking our seats, we waited for service. Unfortunately, one staff member was busy cleaning chairs (in the empty restaurant) while the other vanished outside. The atmosphere was uncomfortable, almost forcing us to whisper to each other, so awkward!

After waiting without any interaction (again.. considering we were the only customers), we quietly decided to leave and head to the nearby riverside pub instead. With 13 years of experience in hospitality, I believe that basic acknowledgment of customers is bare minimum.

To my surprise, the staff member didn’t even acknowledge us leaving but was quick to clear our table of the menus. I left feeling disappointed, unwelcome, and like a burden. It’s such a shame, given the stunning...

I have been here a couple of times over the past few weeks. The first time I had lunch which was lovely. I then had a coffee and cake on my second visit but the coffee was probably the worst I had experienced in a while. Today will be my last visit to the tea gardens for food. The service is always good but today the food was not satisfactory. I ordered a prawn sandwich in marie rose sauce, which was what I ordered the previous time. There was no sauce so to speak and what there was made the bread too soggy pick up or eat. I was in a rush so just ate the prawns and salad and mentioned it to the waitress who was lovely. She came back and said that her manager said it was because the sauce was watery. Who says that to a customer? The manager did not come out to apologise but left it to her young waitress to deal with. Shocking customer service. Why would you serve something knowing full well it would make the bread soggy. Poor inferior products are being used as I have never experienced this before. The tea gardens are in a lovely setting but I would only visit...